TWI716028B - Linkage mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A linkage mechanism includes a pivoting assembly, a cam, a sliding assembly and at least one linkage. The cam is sleeved on a rotating axis of the pivoting assembly to pivot coaxially with the rotating axis. A leaning element of the sliding assembly is located on one side of the cam. A sliding frame of the sliding assembly pivots the leaning element and has at least one limiting area. The linkage is located in the limiting area and includes a main body portion, a first linkage portion and a second linkage portion. The first linkage portion protrudes beyond the limiting area. When the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from a first position to a second position, the cam pushes against the leaning element to slide the sliding frame in a first direction relative to a plate, and the limiting area of the sliding frame interferes with the first linkage portion of the linkage to rotate the main body portion in a first clock direction to allow the second linkage portion to provide a thrust in a second direction.

Description

Linkage mechanism

The present invention relates to a linkage mechanism, and particularly relates to a linkage mechanism suitable for electronic devices.

Generally speaking, a notebook computer is mostly composed of an upper body with a display screen and a lower body with a host system and/or a keyboard, wherein the upper body and the lower body are pivotally connected to each other through a pivoting structure. However, the conventional keyboard is at the same height in the in-use state and the non-in-use state, so that the overall thickness of the notebook computer cannot be reduced. Therefore, how to make the keyboard connected to the linkage member move with the linkage member through the rotation of the pivoting structure to have different positions in the use state and the non-use state, has become one of the problems to be solved urgently. .

The present invention provides a linkage mechanism, which can provide forces in two different directions, thereby displacing a base that is connected with a linkage and carries a keyboard.

The linkage mechanism of the present invention is suitable for being assembled on a plate, and includes a pivoting component, a cam, a sliding component and at least one connecting rod. The pivot assembly includes a shaft. The cam is sleeved on the rotating shaft to pivot coaxially with the rotating shaft. The sliding component is assembled on the board and includes a contact piece and a sliding frame. The abutting piece is located on one side of the cam, and the sliding frame is pivotally connected to the abutting piece and has at least one limiting area. The connecting rod is assembled on the plate and is located in the limit area of the sliding frame. The connecting rod includes a main body part and a first connecting rod part and a second connecting rod part connecting the main body part. The first connecting rod part protrudes outside the limit zone. When the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from a first position to a second position, the cam pushes against the abutment member so that the sliding frame slides in a first direction relative to the plate, and the limit area of the sliding frame The first connecting rod part of the interference connecting rod is used to rotate the main body part in a first clock direction and the second connecting rod part provides thrust in a second direction. The first direction is different from the second direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned linkage mechanism further includes an elastic member having a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is fixed on the plate, and the second end is fixed on the sliding frame. When the pivoting component drives the cam to pivot from the first position to the second position, the elastic member is stretched along a third direction opposite to the first direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from the second position to the third position, the cam abuts against the abutment member so that the sliding frame does not slide, and the sliding frame is limited in position The zone does not interfere with the first connecting rod part of the connecting rod, so that the main body part does not rotate, and the elastic member has a maximum tensile deformation in the third direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from the third position to the fourth position, the elastic restoring force of the elastic member pulls the sliding frame to slide in the third direction, and the cam resists The abutment part, the limit area of the sliding frame interferes with the first link part of the link, so that the main body part rotates in a second clock direction and the second link part provides a fourth direction opposite to the second direction pull. The first clock direction is different from the second clock direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, one of the aforementioned first clock direction and the second clock direction is a clockwise direction. The other of the first clock direction and the second clock direction is a counterclockwise direction.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned sliding frame further has at least one locking groove. The linkage mechanism further includes at least one locking member, which passes through the locking groove of the sliding frame and is positioned on the plate. When the pivot assembly drives the cam to pivot from the first position to the second position, and when the pivot assembly drives the cam to pivot from the third position to the fourth position, the locking groove and the locking member of the sliding frame Relative movement.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned sliding frame further has a configuration slot, the extension direction of the configuration slot is parallel to the first direction, and the elastic member is located in the configuration slot.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned cam has a first assembly portion, and the sliding frame has a second assembly portion. When the cam is in the first position, the first assembly part is fitted into the second assembly part.

In an embodiment of the present invention, one of the above-mentioned first assembling part and second assembling part is a concave part. The other of the first assembly part and the second assembly part is a convex part.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned pivot assembly further includes a hinge structure assembled with the rotating shaft.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is an included angle between the first connecting rod portion and the second connecting rod portion of the aforementioned connecting rod. The included angle is greater than 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

Based on the above, in the design of the linkage mechanism of the present invention, the cam pushes against the abutment member of the sliding assembly, so that the sliding frame slides in the first direction and interferes with the first link part of the link, causing the main part of the link to rotate And let the second connecting rod part provide thrust in the second direction. In other words, the linkage mechanism of the present invention can provide forces in two different directions. In this way, the linkage mechanism of the present invention can not only generate sliding force in the first direction, but also generate thrust in the second direction, thereby displacing the base connected with the connecting rod and carrying the keyboard.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a linkage mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of the linkage mechanism in FIG. 1A. 1C to 1E are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the linkage mechanism in FIG. 1A. 2A to 2D are respectively schematic cross-sectional views of the linkage mechanism in FIGS. 1A and 1C to 1E.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B at the same time. In this embodiment, the linkage mechanism 100 is adapted to be assembled on a plate 10, and the linkage mechanism 100 includes a pivot assembly 110, a cam 120, a sliding assembly 130, and at least A connecting rod 140 (two are shown schematically). The pivot assembly 110 includes a rotating shaft 112, and the cam 120 is sleeved on the rotating shaft 112 to pivot coaxially with the rotating shaft 112. The sliding assembly 130 is assembled on the board 10 and includes an abutting piece 132 and a sliding frame 134. The abutting member 132 is located on one side of the cam 120, and the sliding frame 134 is pivotally connected to the abutting member 132 and has at least one limiting area S1. The connecting rod 140 is assembled on the plate 10 and is located in the limiting area S1 of the sliding frame 134. The connecting rod 140 includes a main body part 142 and a first connecting rod part 144 and a second connecting rod part 146 connecting the main body part 142, wherein the first connecting rod part 144 protrudes outside the limiting area S1.

More specifically, the pivot assembly 110 of this embodiment further includes a hinge structure 114, wherein the hinge structure 114 and the shaft 112 are assembled together. Here, the hinge structure 114 of the pivoting assembly 110 is, for example, pivotally connecting a first body (such as a display screen, not shown) and a second body (system host, not shown) of an electronic device (such as a notebook computer, not shown) Show), so that the first body can be expanded or closed relative to the second body. The rotating shaft 112 of the pivot assembly 110 is adapted to pass through the positioning hole 12 of the plate 10 of the second body, and is rotatably positioned on the plate 10. The cam 120 has a curved profile and is sleeved on the rotating shaft 112 of the pivot assembly 110 to pivot coaxially with the rotating shaft 112. Here, the geometric center to the edge of the cam 120 has a maximum radius and a minimum radius. In other words, the geometric center to the edge of the cam 120 is not a certain value.

Please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B at the same time. The cam 120 of this embodiment has a first assembly portion 125, and the sliding frame 134 has a second assembly portion 135. When the cam 120 is located at a first position P1, the first assembling part 125 is fitted into the second assembling part 135. Preferably, one of the first assembly portion 125 and the second assembly portion 135 is a concave portion, and the other of the first assembly portion 125 and the second assembly portion 135 is a convex portion. Here, the first assembling part 125 is embodied as a convex part, and the second assembling part 135 is embodied as a concave part, but it is not limited thereto.

Furthermore, the sliding frame 134 of the sliding assembly 130 of this embodiment further has a configuration slot S2, wherein the extending direction of the configuration slot S2 is parallel to a first direction D1 (for example, the Y direction, please refer to FIG. 1C). The linkage mechanism 100 further includes an elastic member 150, wherein the elastic member 150 is located in the configuration slot S2. More specifically, the elastic member 150 of this embodiment has a first end 152 and a second end 154 opposite to each other, wherein the first end 152 is fixed to the plate 10, and the second end 154 is fixed to the sliding frame 134 on. Here, the elastic member 150 can provide elastic force, which is, for example, a tension spring, but it is not limited thereto. In addition, the sliding frame 134 of this embodiment further has at least one locking slot S3 (two are shown schematically), and the linkage mechanism 100 further includes at least one locking member 160 (two are shown schematically), wherein the lock The firmware 160 passes through the locking slot S3 of the sliding frame 134 and is positioned on the plate 10. Here, the size of the locking groove S3 is larger than the size of the locking member 160. Therefore, when the sliding frame 134 slides in the first direction D1 (see FIG. 1C) relative to the plate 10, the locking member 160 is between the locking member 160 and the locking groove S3. Can produce relative movement.

In addition, please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1B at the same time. The main body 142 of the connecting rod 140 in this embodiment is assembled on the plate 10, and the connecting rod 140 is located in the limiting area S1 of the sliding frame 134. The first connecting rod portion 144 of the connecting rod 140 protrudes from the limiting area S1 of the sliding frame 134. Therefore, when the sliding frame 134 slides relative to the plate 10, the limiting area S1 of the sliding frame 134 will interfere (eg push against) the first A connecting rod portion 144 rotates the main body portion 142 of the connecting rod 140 by an angle so that the second connecting rod portion 146 generates thrust in a second direction D2 (please refer to FIG. 1C). In other words, the connecting rod 140 of this embodiment has rotational freedom. Preferably, there is an included angle A between the first connecting rod portion 144 and the second connecting rod portion 146 of the connecting rod 140, wherein the included angle A is, for example, greater than 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees. Here, the first connecting rod portion 144 and the second connecting rod portion 146 of the connecting rod 140 are 90 degrees, that is, the angle A between the first connecting rod portion 144 and the second connecting rod portion 146 is 90 degrees, which can be regarded as L-shaped connecting rod.

For the action of the linkage mechanism 100, please refer to Figure 1A and Figure 2A at the same time. When the first body (such as the display screen, not shown) of the electronic device (not shown) is relative to the second body (the system host, not shown) When shown) is closed, that is, when the angle is 0 degrees, the cam 120 contacts the abutment 132 of the sliding assembly 130 with the smallest radius. At this time, the cam 120 is located at the first position P1.

Next, referring to FIGS. 1A, 1C, 2A, and 2B at the same time, when the pivot assembly 110 drives the cam 120 to pivot from a first position P1 to a second position P2, the cam 120 pushes against the abutting member 132 So that the sliding frame 134 slides in the first direction D1 relative to the plate 10, and the limit area S1 of the sliding frame 134 interferes with the first link portion 144 of the connecting rod 140, so that the main body portion 142 is along a first clock direction T1 Rotate (such as counterclockwise) and allow the second link portion 146 to provide thrust in the second direction D2 (such as the X direction). At this time, the locking groove S3 of the sliding frame 134 and the locking member 160 also move relatively, and the elastic member 150 is stretched in a third direction D3 opposite to the first direction D1. The first direction D1 is different from the second direction D2. Preferably, the first direction D1 is perpendicular to the second direction D2, but it is not limited thereto.

More specifically, when the pivoting component 110 pivots so that the opening angle of the first body (such as a display screen, not shown) relative to the second body (system host, not shown) is 0 degrees to 90 degrees, The cam 120 rotates from the minimum radius to the maximum radius along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 112 to provide thrust to slide the sliding frame 134 of the sliding assembly 130. After the first connecting rod portion 144 of the connecting rod 140 is pushed by the sliding frame 134, the main body portion 142 of the connecting rod 140 is rotated to allow the second connecting rod portion 146 to provide thrust to the base that is connected and carries the keyboard (not shown). The seat 20 is displaced. At this time, the elastic member 150 provides a pulling force of the sliding frame 134 in a third direction D3 opposite to the first direction D1. That is, the sliding frame 134 of the sliding assembly 130 moves along the first direction D1, and the elastic member 150 is stretched and generates a force to pull back the sliding frame 134 in the opposite direction (ie, the third direction D3), so when the cam 120 is pushed Need to increase this force value.

Next, please refer to FIG. 1C, FIG. 1D, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C at the same time, when the pivot assembly 110 drives the cam 120 to pivot from the second position P2 to a third position P3, the cam 120 abuts against the abutting member 132 So that the sliding frame 134 does not slide, and the limit area S1 of the sliding frame 134 does not interfere with the first link portion 144 of the connecting rod 140, so that the main body portion 142 does not rotate, and the elastic member 150 has a maximum value in the third direction D3. The amount of tensile deformation.

When the pivoting assembly 110 pivots so that the opening angle of the first body (such as a display screen, not shown) relative to the second body (system host, not shown) is 90 degrees to 180 degrees, the cam 120 at this stage It is the contact member 132 that contacts the sliding assembly 130 with the maximum radius. In other words, the cam 120 is continuously maintained at the maximum radius along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 112. Therefore, the cam 120 rotates but does not push the sliding assembly 130, so the sliding frame 134 does not move, that is, the sliding frame 134 of the sliding assembly 130 remains stationary. Since the sliding frame 134 does not move, the limit area S1 of the sliding frame 134 will not interfere with the first link portion 144 of the link 140, so the main body 142 of the link 140 will not rotate. At this time, the elastic member 150 is stretched to the maximum value, and the maximum reverse (that is, the third direction D3) force is generated.

Please refer to FIGS. 1D, 1E, 2C, and 2D at the same time. When the pivot assembly 110 drives the cam 120 to pivot from the third position P3 to a fourth position P4, the elastic restoring force of the elastic member 150 pulls the sliding frame 134 slides in the third direction D3, and the cam 120 abuts the abutment 132, the limit area S1 of the sliding frame 134 interferes with the first link portion 144 of the link 140, so that the main body portion 142 is along a second clock direction T2 Rotate (such as clockwise) and allow the second link portion 146 to provide a pulling force in a fourth direction D4 opposite to the second direction D2 (please refer to FIG. 1C). At this time, the locking groove S3 of the sliding frame 134 and the locking member 160 also move relatively. In addition, the first clock direction T1 is substantially different from the second clock direction T2. That is, one of the first clock direction T1 and the second clock direction T2 is a clockwise direction, and the other of the first clock direction T1 and the second clock direction T2 is a counterclockwise direction.

More specifically, when the pivoting assembly 110 pivots so that the opening angle of the first body (such as a display screen, not shown) relative to the second body (system host, not shown) is 180 degrees to 360 degrees, The cam 120 rotates from the maximum radius to the minimum radius along with the rotation of the rotating shaft 112. The cam 120 bears against the abutting member 132 of the sliding assembly 130, and the elastic member 150 provides elastic restoring force to pull the sliding frame 134 to move in the third direction D3, and push the first connecting rod portion 144 of the connecting rod 140, causing the connecting rod 140 to move The main body portion 142 rotates so that the second link portion 146 provides a pulling force in the fourth direction D4 to return the base 20 connected and carrying the keyboard (not shown) to the original position.

In short, when the pivoting assembly 110 pivots so that the opening angle of the first body (such as a display screen, not shown) relative to the second body (system host, not shown) is 90 degrees to 180 degrees, please 1C and 1D, the movement distance of the base 20 relative to the plate 10 is the largest. When the pivoting assembly 110 pivots so that the opening angle of the first body relative to the second body is greater than 180 degrees or less than 90 degrees, the moving distance of the base 20 relative to the plate 10 is gradually reduced. When the pivoting assembly 110 pivots so that the angle of the first body relative to the second body is 0 degrees or 360 degrees, please refer to FIGS. 1A and 1E, and the base 20 returns to its original position. In other words, the linkage mechanism 100 of this embodiment can cause the sliding frame 134 to slide in the Y direction (that is, the first direction D1 and the third direction D3), and in the X direction (that is, the second direction D2 and the fourth direction D4) The second link part 145 of the link 140 is connected and the base 20 carrying the keyboard is displaced.

In summary, in the design of the linkage mechanism of the present invention, the cam pushes against the abutment member of the sliding assembly, so that the sliding frame slides in the first direction and interferes with the first link part of the link, resulting in the main body of the link The part rotates to allow the second link part to provide thrust in the second direction. In other words, the linkage mechanism of the present invention can provide forces in two different directions. In this way, the linkage mechanism of the present invention can not only generate sliding force in the first direction, but also generate thrust in the second direction, thereby displacing the base connected with the connecting rod and carrying the keyboard.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

10: Plate 12: positioning hole 20: Pedestal 100: Linkage mechanism 110: pivot mechanism 112: shaft 114: Hinge structure 120: cam 125: First Assembly Department 130: Sliding component 132: abutment 134: Sliding frame 135: Second Assembly Department 140: connecting rod 142: Main Body 144: The first link 146: second link 150: Elastic 152: first end 154: second end 160: lock firmware A: included angle D1: First direction D2: second direction D3: Third party D4: Fourth direction P1: first position P2: second position P3: third position P4: Fourth position S1: Limit zone S2: configuration slot S3: Locking slot T1: first clock direction T2: second clock direction

FIG. 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a linkage mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1B is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of the linkage mechanism in FIG. 1A. 1C to 1E are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the linkage mechanism in FIG. 1A. 2A to 2D are respectively schematic cross-sectional views of the linkage mechanism in FIGS. 1A and 1C to 1E.

10: Plate

20: Pedestal

100: Linkage mechanism

110: pivot mechanism

112: shaft

114: Hinge structure

120: cam

130: Sliding component

132: abutment

134: Sliding frame

140: connecting rod

142: Main Body

144: The first link

146: second link

150: Elastic

152: first end

154: second end

160: lock firmware

P1: first position

S1: Limit zone

S2: configuration slot

S3: Locking slot

Claims (12)

A linkage mechanism suitable for assembling on a plate, the linkage mechanism includes: A pivot assembly, including a shaft; A cam sleeved on the rotating shaft to pivot coaxially with the rotating shaft; A sliding component assembled on the plate and includes an abutting piece and a sliding frame, wherein the abutting piece is located on one side of the cam, and the sliding frame is pivotally connected to the abutting piece and has at least one limiting area ;as well as At least one connecting rod assembled on the plate and located in the limiting area of the sliding frame. The connecting rod includes a main body and a first connecting rod and a second connecting rod connecting the main body , Wherein the first connecting rod portion protrudes outside the limit area, Wherein, when the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from a first position to a second position, the cam pushes against the abutment member to make the sliding frame slide in a first direction relative to the plate member, And the limit area of the sliding frame interferes with the first link part of the link, so that the main body part rotates in a first clock direction and the second link part provides thrust in a second direction, the The first direction is different from the second direction. The linkage mechanism described in item 1 of the scope of patent application further includes: An elastic member having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end is fixed on the plate, and the second end is fixed on the sliding frame, When the pivoting component drives the cam to pivot from the first position to the second position, the elastic member is stretched in a third direction opposite to the first direction. The linkage mechanism described in item 2 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from the second position to a third position, the cam abuts against the abutment member to make the sliding The frame does not slide, and the limit area of the sliding frame does not interfere with the first connecting rod portion of the connecting rod, so that the main body portion does not rotate, and the elastic member has a maximum tensile deformation in the third direction . The linkage mechanism described in item 3 of the scope of patent application, wherein when the pivoting assembly drives the cam to pivot from the third position to a fourth position, the elastic restoring force of the elastic member pulls the sliding frame along The third direction slides, and the cam abuts the abutment, the limit area of the sliding frame interferes with the first link part of the link, so that the main body part rotates in a second clock direction and allows The second link portion provides a pulling force in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction, and the first clock direction is different from the second clock direction. The linkage mechanism described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, wherein one of the first clock direction and the second clock direction is a clockwise direction, and the other of the first clock direction and the second clock direction is A counterclockwise direction. For the linkage mechanism described in item 4 of the scope of patent application, the sliding frame further has at least one locking groove, and the linkage mechanism further includes: At least one locking member passes through the locking groove of the sliding frame and is positioned on the plate, wherein when the pivot assembly drives the cam to pivot from the first position to the second position, and When the pivoting component drives the cam to pivot from the third position to the fourth position, the locking groove of the sliding frame and the locking member move relatively. According to the linkage mechanism described in item 2 of the scope of patent application, the sliding frame further has a configuration slot, the extension direction of the configuration slot is parallel to the first direction, and the elastic member is located in the configuration slot. The linkage mechanism described in claim 1, wherein the cam has a first assembling part, the sliding frame has a second assembling part, and when the cam is at the first position, the first assembling part is fitted In the second assembly part. The linkage mechanism described in item 8 of the scope of patent application, wherein one of the first assembling part and the second assembling part is a concave part, and the other of the first assembling part and the second assembling part is a convex unit. According to the linkage mechanism described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, the pivoting assembly further includes a hinge structure assembled with the rotating shaft. The linkage mechanism described in the first item of the scope of patent application, wherein an included angle is formed between the first connecting rod portion and the second connecting rod portion of the connecting rod, and the included angle is greater than 60 degrees and less than 120 degrees. The linkage mechanism described in item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

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